Health and Safety

1. Health and Safety

2. Computers and health • Not so long ago, computers were expected to release humans from the drudgery of boring and repetitive work • Nowadays, computers are deemed responsible for a whole range of health hazards • Stress • RSI • Eyestrain • ELF radiation • Backache

3. Stress • Major factor in work-related illness • Ways in which computers put pressure on workers • They may be used to monitor performance • They induce fear and panic – particularly in older people • It can be impossible to escape them • Mobile phones, modems, laptops • Information overload • Speed of development contributes to stress-related illnesses

4. RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) • Usually affects hands, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders and neck • Can develop to be very debilitating • Once it develops it tends to recur • HSE says more than 100,000 workers suffer to some degree

5. Eyestrain • Long hours spent in front of a screen • No evidence that computers cause permanent damage • The following factors all contribute to at least temporary eyestrain • Glare • Improper lighting • Improperly corrected vision (wrong glasses) • Poor work practices • Poorly designed workstations

6. ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) radiation • Exposure to ELF is an everyday occurrence • Can occur naturally – sun, fire, magnetic effects • Research suggests that effects of ELF are increasing • Some studies try to link ELF to early miscarriages • No clear-cut results • There is evidence of some correlation between miscarriages and hours spent at a VDU • This could be due to other factors such as stress and workplace conditions • Ongoing controversy over mobile phones

7. Computers, Health and the law • Employers are required to • Perform an analysis of workstations in order to evaluate the safety and health conditions to which they give rise • Provide training to employees in the use of workstation components • Ensure employees take regular breaks or changes in activity • Provide regular eye tests for workstation users and pay for glasses

8. Computers, Health and the law • Employees have a responsibility to • Use workstations and equipment correctly, in accordance with training provided by employers • Bring problems to the attention of their employer immediately and co-operate in the correction of these problems

9. Computers, Health and the law • Manufacturers are required to ensure that their products comply with the Directive. For example: • Screens must tilt and swivel • Keyboards must be separate and moveable • Notebook PCs are not suitable for entering large amounts of data

10. The ergonomic environment • Ergonomics refers to the design and functionality of the environment, and encompasses the entire range of environmental factors. Employers must give consideration to: • Lighting:office well lit, with blinds • Furniture: chairs of adjustable height, with tilting backrest, swiveling on five-point base • Work space: combination of chair, desk, computer, accessories, lighting, heating and ventilation all contribute to overall well-being • Noise: e.g. noisy printers relocated • Hardware: screen must tilt and swivel and be flicker-free, the keyboard separately attached • Software: should facilitate task, be easy to use and adaptable to user’s experience